Music ReviewsmySSnews.com is the official online presence for the Sulphur Springs News-Telegram, the daily newspaper for Sulphur Springs, Texas and Hopkins County.http://www.myssnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=141&layout=blog&Itemid=582
Fri, 09 Dec 2016 15:27:41 +0000Joomla! 1.5 - Open Source Content Managementen-gbWith “Southern Drawl,” Alabama reminds us who we are and why their songs resonatehttp://www.myssnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30597:with-southern-drawl-alabama-reminds-us-who-we-are-and-why-their-songs-resonate&catid=141:music&Itemid=582
http://www.myssnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30597:with-southern-drawl-alabama-reminds-us-who-we-are-and-why-their-songs-resonate&catid=141:music&Itemid=582It’s been nearly 10 years since Alabama disbanned and 14 years since they put out a full album of new material. Many fans are excited to see the guys back together, making new music on their own terms.
]]>faith@ssecho.com (By FAITH HUFMAN, News-Telegram news staff, faith@ssecho.com)MusicSat, 26 Sep 2015 17:51:59 +0000Kent Gooding: Gifted musician/singer/songwriter gone too soonhttp://www.myssnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=26172:kent-gooding-gifted-musiciansingersongwriter-gone-too-soon&catid=141:music&Itemid=582
http://www.myssnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=26172:kent-gooding-gifted-musiciansingersongwriter-gone-too-soon&catid=141:music&Itemid=582Prior to his sudden death on July 4, 2012, Kent Gooding was on his way to being an important name in Americana music. Although he played rock in his early years, he had settled into a calmer, more acoustic style of guitar picking.
]]>thmathews@ssecho.com (By TERRY MATHEWS, News-Telegram Arts Editor)MusicTue, 22 Jul 2014 18:29:54 +0000Slaid Cleaves: Perfect choice to open City Hall Series - Sold-out crowd embraces near-perfect listening room experiencehttp://www.myssnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=26136:slaid-cleaves-perfect-choice-to-open-city-hall-series-sold-out-crowd-embraces-near-perfect-listening-room-experience&catid=141:music&Itemid=582
http://www.myssnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=26136:slaid-cleaves-perfect-choice-to-open-city-hall-series-sold-out-crowd-embraces-near-perfect-listening-room-experience&catid=141:music&Itemid=582 Crossroads Music Company and Listening Room on Saturday made a great debut with its City Hall Series, as Americana artist Slaid Cleaves played to a sold-out house in the beautiful newly-renovated city council chambers.
]]>thmathews@ssecho.com (By TERRY MATHEWS, News-Telegram Arts Editor)MusicWed, 16 Jul 2014 19:44:06 +0000Jimmy Buffett in Frisco: A fun time on the Margaritaville juggernauthttp://www.myssnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25996:jimmy-buffett-in-frisco-a-fun-time-on-the-margaritaville-juggernaut&catid=141:music&Itemid=582
http://www.myssnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25996:jimmy-buffett-in-frisco-a-fun-time-on-the-margaritaville-juggernaut&catid=141:music&Itemid=582You have to be there. Maybe that’s why mainstream radio has never really warmed up to Jimmy Buffett.
]]>thmathews@ssecho.com (By TERRY MATHEWS, News-Telegram Arts Editor)MusicTue, 24 Jun 2014 17:26:02 +0000Radney Foster: This time it’s personal - Native Texan pens love letters to the ladies in his lifehttp://www.myssnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25596:radney-foster-this-time-its-personal-native-texan-pens-love-letters-to-the-ladies-in-his-life&catid=141:music&Itemid=582
http://www.myssnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25596:radney-foster-this-time-its-personal-native-texan-pens-love-letters-to-the-ladies-in-his-life&catid=141:music&Itemid=582In a stroke of genius, singer/songwriter Radney Foster has managed to write something special for the women in his life – his muse, his wife, his daughter and his ex-wife. As crazy as it sounds, the girls love their songs on “Something I Should Have Said,” (May 13, Devil’s River Records). Well, at least the real girls.
]]>thmathews@ssecho.com (BY TERRY MATHEWS, News-Telegram Arts Editor)MusicFri, 09 May 2014 19:23:27 +0000Parker Millsap: ‘Dangerous’ rising star in Americana Musichttp://www.myssnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25481:parker-millsap-dangerous-rising-star-in-americana-music&catid=141:music&Itemid=582
http://www.myssnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25481:parker-millsap-dangerous-rising-star-in-americana-music&catid=141:music&Itemid=582Ask Oklahoma native Parker Millsap about his songs and he’ll tell you he isn’t thinking about the long haul.
]]>thmathews@ssecho.com (BY TERRY MATHEWS, News-Telegram Arts Editor)MusicTue, 29 Apr 2014 17:54:33 +0000Rodney Crowell gives his best on ‘Tarpaper Sky’http://www.myssnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=24919:rodney-crowell-gives-his-best-on-tarpaper-sky&catid=141:music&Itemid=582
http://www.myssnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=24919:rodney-crowell-gives-his-best-on-tarpaper-sky&catid=141:music&Itemid=582 Coming off a recent Grammy win with long-time friend and performing partner Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell kicked off his “Tarpaper Sky” tour Saturday night at Music City Texas in Linden, playing to a packed and appreciative house.
]]>thmathews@ssecho.com (BY TERRY MATHEWS, News-Telegram Arts Editor)MusicTue, 11 Mar 2014 15:52:07 +0000Brennen Leigh and Noel McKay: A match made in country duet heavenhttp://www.myssnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23508:brennen-leigh-and-noel-mckay-a-match-made-in-country-duet-heaven&catid=141:music&Itemid=582
http://www.myssnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23508:brennen-leigh-and-noel-mckay-a-match-made-in-country-duet-heaven&catid=141:music&Itemid=582 If you’re into traditional country music duets, you might want to check out Brennen Leigh and Noel McKay’s new CD, “Before the World was Made.”
]]>thmathews@ssecho.com (By TERRY MATHEWS, News-Telegram Arts Editor)MusicWed, 23 Oct 2013 16:38:21 +0000 Joe Nichols: Country star celebrating new record and happy life in East Texashttp://www.myssnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23456:-joe-nichols-country-star-celebrating-new-record-and-happy-life-in-east-texas&catid=141:music&Itemid=582
http://www.myssnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23456:-joe-nichols-country-star-celebrating-new-record-and-happy-life-in-east-texas&catid=141:music&Itemid=582 Before Joe Nichols went into the studio to cut the tracks for “Crickets,” his first record in two years, he made a couple of key decisions.
]]>thmathews@ssecho.com (By TERRY MATHEWS, News-Telegram Arts Editor)MusicFri, 18 Oct 2013 17:08:39 +0000Kellye Gray: Voice as instrument - Jazz singer covers Texas tunesmiths on new recordhttp://www.myssnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23363:kellye-gray-voice-as-instrument-jazz-singer-covers-texas-tunesmiths-on-new-record&catid=141:music&Itemid=582
http://www.myssnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23363:kellye-gray-voice-as-instrument-jazz-singer-covers-texas-tunesmiths-on-new-record&catid=141:music&Itemid=582Picture it: San Francisco. Late September. Texas native Kellye Gray has a lot to do. The post modern jazz singer’s brilliant new record, “And, They Call Us Cowboys: The Texas Music Project,” hit the streets on Sept. 17. Chaos ensues.
]]>thmathews@ssecho.com (BY TERRY MATHEWS, News-Telegram Arts Editor)MusicWed, 09 Oct 2013 17:10:33 +0000Jimmy Webb remembers: America’s songwriter talks about Elvis, Kenny Rankin, Linda Ronstadt and Glen Campbellhttp://www.myssnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23101:jimmy-webb-remembers-americas-songwriter-talks-about-elvis-kenny-rankin-linda-ronstadt-and-glen-campbell&catid=141:music&Itemid=582
http://www.myssnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23101:jimmy-webb-remembers-americas-songwriter-talks-about-elvis-kenny-rankin-linda-ronstadt-and-glen-campbell&catid=141:music&Itemid=582Jimmy Webb is one of the most honored songwriters of our time. Frank Sinatra called Webb’s “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” the greatest torch song ever written. It was the third most performed song between 1940 and 1990, according to BMI, behind only “Yesterday” by John Lennon and The Association’s “Never My Love.” He’s the only artist to ever win Grammys in three categories: music, lyrics and orchestration. He is a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, The National Academy of Popular Music Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, a member of ASCAP’s board of directors and a recipient of the 2003 Songwriters Hall of Fame Johnny Mercer Award.
]]>thmathews@ssecho.com (BY TERRY MATHEWS, NEWS-TELEGRAM ARTS EDITOR)MusicFri, 13 Sep 2013 15:31:48 +0000Old Yellow Moon: Timeless songs, special momentshttp://www.myssnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22882:old-yellow-moon-timeless-tunes-special-moments&catid=141:music&Itemid=582
http://www.myssnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22882:old-yellow-moon-timeless-tunes-special-moments&catid=141:music&Itemid=582During our recent conversation about the selection process for “Old Yellow Moon,” his new record with long-time friend and musical collaborator Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell said they chose the 12 songs because they were timeless, but not in an oldies kind of way.
]]>thmathews@ssecho.com (BY TERRY MATHEWS, NEWS-TELEGRAM ARTS EDITOR)MusicTue, 20 Aug 2013 17:30:01 +0000Of Note: Two Texas originals release CDshttp://www.myssnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22651:of-note-two-texas-originals-release-cds&catid=141:music&Itemid=582
http://www.myssnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22651:of-note-two-texas-originals-release-cds&catid=141:music&Itemid=582

Two of the best songwriters Texas ever produced released records this year. Willie Nelson’s “Let Face the Music and Dance” came out in April. Guy Clark’s “My Favorite Picture of You” drops today. Both artists take a look back with fondness. One honors music of a by-gone era. The other honors his lady love.

]]>thmathews@ssecho.com (BY TERRY MATHEWS, NEWS-TELEGRAM ARTS EDITOR)MusicTue, 23 Jul 2013 17:37:01 +0000Buffett in Bossier: Short and sweet - Paradise Theater offers intimate, up close experience with artisthttp://www.myssnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22580:buffett-in-bossier-short-and-sweet-paradise-theater-offers-intimate-upclose-experience-with-artist&catid=141:music&Itemid=582
http://www.myssnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22580:buffett-in-bossier-short-and-sweet-paradise-theater-offers-intimate-upclose-experience-with-artist&catid=141:music&Itemid=582I got lucky during a walking tour of Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Resort and Casino’s grand opening July 3. Our guide stopped in the Paradise Theater, an intimate 900-seat venue where the Big Kahuna himself was playing a sold-out, VIP show that evening. The first person we saw was Buffett’s long-time security chief, Charleston Miles. Among his many duties, Miles is the one who directs photographers during the show. Usually, he lets us shoot the first three songs – without a flash – and then sends us to our seats.
]]>thmathews@ssecho.com (BY TERRY MATHEWS, NEWS-TELEGRAM ARTS EDITOR)MusicMon, 15 Jul 2013 17:30:38 +0000Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefers warm up Frisco crowd with Songs from St. Somewherehttp://www.myssnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22043:jimmy-buffett-and-the-coral-reefers-warm-up-frisco-crowd-with-songs-from-st-somewhere&catid=141:music&Itemid=582
http://www.myssnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22043:jimmy-buffett-and-the-coral-reefers-warm-up-frisco-crowd-with-songs-from-st-somewhere&catid=141:music&Itemid=582 Normally, when Jimmy Buffett comes to Texas, it’s the beginning of Spring, when everyone ditches their hoodies, long pants and woolen socks and pulls out the Hawaiian shirts, surfer shorts and flip flops. Of course, Spring 2013 has been anything but normal.
]]>thmathews@ssecho.com (BY TERRY MATHEWS, News-Telegram Arts Editor)MusicMon, 06 May 2013 17:11:56 +0000